Lightweight virtualization as enabling technology for future smart cars

Modern vehicles are equipped with several interconnected sensors on board for monitoring and diagnosis purposes; their availability is a main driver for the development of novel applications in the smart vehicle domain. In this paper, we propose a Docker container-based platform as solution for implementing customized smart car applications. Through a proof-of-concept prototype—developed on a Raspberry Pi3 board—we show that a container-based virtualization approach is not only viable but also effective and flexible in the management of several parallel processes running on On Board Unit. More specifically, the platform can take priority-based decisions by handling multiple inputs, e.g., data from the CANbus based on the OBD II codes, video from the on-board webcam, and so on. Results are promising for the development of future in-vehicle virtualized platforms.